Floor construction



Jan. 28, 1930. G. w. HARLEY ,7

FLOOR CONSTRUCTION v Filed July 14, 1927 gnuentov Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES GEORGE W. HARLEY, OF GOLLINGSWOOD, NEW JERSEY FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Application filed July 14, 1927. Serial No. 205,546.

The present invention relates to improvements in floor construction.

Objects of this invention are to provide a form of a permanent nature which is espe 5 cially adapted for use in laying terrazzo and ceramic flooring although equally applicable for use in laying any kind of a plastic flooring, pavement, ceiling, or in the erection of walls or the like; to provide a form of this type which consists of interlocking strips which are capable of association in numerous ways to provide floors, pavements, etc. of various designs and to positively eliminate the possibility of these designs being malformed by relative movement of the strips;

and to provide a very simple form constructed of metal strips which may be manufactured at very low cost and installed even by persons unskilled in this art.

A coordinate object of the invention is to provide a form used in constructing flooring or the like which will last for an indefinite period of time and in view of its durability it is feasible to re-use the same form in building up any portions of the plastic surface which have been worn down.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the present preferred form of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of expansion strips constructed in accordance with the present invention showing a border design;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of strips constructed in accordance with the present invention showing them connected in block design;

Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary perspective view of two of the strips per se showing to advantage the lock joint; and

Fig. 4 is a detail fragmentary elevational view of one of the strips showing another strip interlocked therein, the latter strip being shown in cross section.

The present invention consists essentially of brass expansion strips which may be manually bent in order to form different designs, the strips being provided with complemental notches and complemental lock oints in order to prevent relative movement of the strips when in position. The strips may, of course, be of any desired length and height depending upon the particular work in which they are to be used.

In the present instance the strips, such as 5 indicated at 5, are of oblong constuction and may be provided with intermediate straight slots 6 and terminal slots 7 the walls of which are provided with parallel semi-circular depressions 8. Each of the strips is provided, 59 in proximity to the inner terminal of each slot 7, with a bulged-out portion forming a rib 9 which complements and is adapted to interlock in one of the depressions 8, as shown in Fig. 4. By providing the depressions 8 on both walls of the slot 7 it is apparent that either of the depressions may be engaged with the rib 9. Of course, if desired, the slots 7 may be formed on intermediate portions of the strips as well as on the terminal portions thereof, but in actual use, it is found necessary only to lock the terminals of the strips in order to prevent relative movement of the latter.

It is, moreover, desired that the terminal of each of the strips 5 have the upper corner thereof removed so that when the strips are mounted on a base the plastic material will cover the terminal of the strips. With this end in view I have in Fig. 3 shown one of m the strips 5 with a portion of the corner thereof removed, so as to provide a reduced inclined face 10.

In using the expansion strips constructed in accordance with this invention, it is cus- 55 tomary to first lay the plastic bed after which the strips are mounted in the usual manner on the bed and are made into any desired design. In laying the border, the straight slots 6 can be interengaged at point 11, where the strips cross, as shown in Fig. 1. In laying the strips for the body of the floor, the straight slots are interengaged at 12, of the design shown in Fig. 2. The terminals of 3r 0 these strips are preferably provided with the lock joint construction shown in Fig. 3 so that relative movement of the strips, after they have been mounted on the floor, will be impossible. After the strips have been laid on the floor in this manner the terrazzo and 3% ceramic material is poured between the strips in the usual manner and permitted to harden. The terminals of the strips, which have the corners thereof removed Will lie beneath the surface of the plastic material so as to be hidden from view.

It is to be understood that the device of the present invention is susceptible to uses other than those herein set forth. Moreover, the patterns can be made up to form practically any design desired.

What is claimed is 1. Floor construction including interlocking strips the terminals of which fall below the surfaces of the strips.

2. Floor construction including a plastic bed, strips mounted on said bed and interconnected to provide a multiplicity of frames, the ends of the strips projecting beyond said frames and being reduced, and a plastic body deposited in said frames and above said reduced ends.

3. Floor construction including strips, each of which is provided with marginal slots and equipped with protrusions intermediate its marginal edges, the protrusions of one strip being engageable in the slots of another strip to interlock said strips.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature GEORGE W. HARLEY. 

